On August 12-14, 2011 (Friday-Sunday) we will be holding the "Dog Brothers Martial Arts Training Camp" here in Hermosa Beach (Seven miles south of the Los Angeles LAX Airport). Hermosa Beach is a very agreeable place to be, especially in August; as always, there will be plenty of socializing in the evenings!

With this year's camp being five weeks before the Sept 18th, 2011 "Dog Brothers Open Gathering of the Pack", the timing is perfect for the focus of this year's camp, which will be , , , drum roll please , , , Real Contact Stick Fighting (RCSFg). This camp is ideal for relative beginners looking to raise their learning curve as well as for intermediate and experienced fighters looking to put themselves to the test at Dog Brothers Gatherings. For those fighting at the Gathering, this camp will help bring your game up to a new level. For those who don't fight, training alongside and with those who do will help you functionalize your skills more than you may think possible.

While leaving ourselves free to go with the flow, the planned progression is:

1) Conceptual Overview:

a) Our Theory of Seven Ranges and how it helps us to apply our skills technically in the adrenal state. See my article of several years ago posted in the "Ranges observed in the fights" thread at http://dogbrothers.com/phpBB2/index.php?topic=769.0 (Also see the "Snake Range" article from ten years ago at the end of this newsletter); b) The Triangle from the Third Dimension: Getting to the inner ranges (medio, corto, clinch, and ground) scientifically, whether it be by combinations, "attacking blocks", or "occupying strikes"; c) St. Foom: The art and science of maintaining the outer ranges and preventing the close; d) How RCSFg lays the foundation for "Kali Tudo"-- really applying weaponry motions empty handed and in street situations (our "Die Less Often" material) so that we have "Consistency across categories"; e) Footwork: Applied triangles and bilateralism;

2) Basic Krabi Krabong for DBMA: KK is the Thai military weaponry system from which the combat ring sport of Muay Thai descends.

3) Dos Triques and Advanced Double Stick fighting: "Triques" is our neologism for the initials of our subsystem that blends "Kali" and "Krabi Krabong"-- KKK! For obvious reasons we want to avoid this!!! Thus, the bad pun of Triques for "the three Ks". Dos Triques is the double stick aspect of "Triques" and is where we install the triangular footwork matrix that applies in all areas of DBMA.

4) Los Triques: Although traditional Filipino Martial Art theology posits that kicking in a weapons fight is a really bad idea, our experience has been that the KK approach to using of kicks and knees has a lot of merit. We teach the integration of kicks with stick with triangular footwork in the single stick portion of Triques.

5) The Science of Closing to Media/Corto/Clinch: In my opinion, one of the fortes of DBMA is our ability to get to the inner ranges technically and scientifically so that we arrive in a dominant manner in good balance with our eyes open. This is where wesee Attacking Blocks, Closing Combinations, and Occupying Strikes.

6) The Salty Structure and The Bolo Game: Named after the legendary Salty Dog, the Salty Game is the science of fighting from the off lead (weapon in rear hand) The Bolo Game works very well from the Salty Structure.

7) Snaggletooth Variations

The Trident: Integrating the various games into the footwork matrix.

9) Applied Staff fighting

10) Applied Stick & Knife

11) Stick Clinch

12) Stick grappling

I am in a mood to really lay it down with this material and there is a very good chance that the material from this camp will become a DBMA DVD "Advanced Stick Fighting".

So, how much for this veritable cornucopia of stickfighting sagacity? As always, we respect that value of your time and money with fair prices: The cost is $100 per day, or $250 for all three days. 10% discount for DBMA Association members, 15% discount for Law Enforcement, and 25% for US (and NATO allies e.g. Canada) military.

================The following article is quite old, but perhaps it remains relevant

Snake Range,by Guro Crafty (Copyright 2001 Dog Brothers Inc.)

As Juan Matus has pointed out, seeing what is not there as well as what is powerful--in life as well as in stickfighting. I often see doubt or the “BS alert” expression in people’s faces when they hear that Snake Range, the first range of DBMA, is defined as “before contact is made”. To most people, if no hitting is going on, then nothing of importance is going on. Yet the idea of Snake Range is that what is done in the absence of hitting in order to define the moment of impact (and its continuation) is one of the most important parts of fighting.

Third, and closely related, there is the analysis of his structure which we call “The Theory of Chambers”.

Fourth, there is a specific theory of footwork.

Fifth, there is using this range to AVOID contact, which includes both ST. FOOM (an acronym for “stay the fornicate off of me”) and the specific footwork theory for avoiding engagement. And sixth, there is the theory of the skirmish (multiple versus one, and many versus many where numbers may or may not be equal)

The first element we will leave for another day. For now we will note that Top Dog’s distinctive circling of the stick we call “the clock” and that a fighter seasoned in the Attacking Block Drills will be able to use a Upward 8 in a similar manner.

Lets turn to psychological types and games that one should recognize in Snake Range. Here, in no particular order, are some examples:

a) "Mongo" (after the Alex Karras character in Mel Brooks's "Blazing Saddles") Mongo looks to smash anything and every thing that comes at him or is in front of him.

b) The Stalker: he lumbers after you, often with step and slide footwork.

e) The Posturer: he doesn’t really want to fight. Typically Posturers strut and posture just out of reach in the hopes you will overextend yourself due to impatience.

f) The Salesman: uses the stick deceptively hoping to trick you into exposing yourself.

g) Three Card Monte: a variation of the salesman done with double stick. It mixes the chambers of each stick (e.g. holds one high and one low) and tries to hit you with the one at which you’re not looking.

h) The Speed Merchant: not much power, but he scores and moves.

i) The Troglodyte: doesn’t care much if you hit him, he’s going to hit you.

j) The Linebacker: comes after you like a linebacker blitzing a quarterback. He wants to crash and take it to the ground.

There’s more of course and these types can be combined. For example, a Mongo can be a Troglodyte Stalker.

The Theory of Chambers is the analysis of the physical structure of the man in front of you. From where does he throw? Some examples:

a) From above the forehand shoulder is “the Caveman”.

b) Does he finish this swing with his elbow in centerline? Then he is “elbow fulcrum”.

c) A “backhander” prefers to throw from the backhand side.

d) A “slapper” has bad form and tends to swing horizontally.

e) “Off-lead” is with the weapon in the rear hand.

f) Low Chamber is a low forehand position. This sometimes is in an off-lead.

g) Siniwali Caveman is with the caveman strike in the rear, and the front stick is a jabbing/shielding position (a.k.a. “paw and pow”).

h) Double Caveman is with each stick above its respective shoulder.

i) False lead is left shoulder and right foot forward, right stick in right hand or vice versa.

These are but some examples. For each of these structures you want to know what are the strengths and weaknesses and have solutions.

In addition to the snakey stick, there is also “the snaky foot”, which of course is an oxymoron because snakes don’t have feet?but never mind that. There is a specific theory of footwork for this distance which we will leave for another day.

And in the street you may not want to engage and may want to keep the jackal(s) away. ST. FOOM is moving your feet and swinging your stick so as to create a bubble around yourself into which no one wants to step.

And the Skirmish is all the skills you need for multiple situations. This is more tactics and strategy than particular technique. Technical competence is already assumed, thus it is usually covered later in the training. If you can’t fight one, you may not be ready to think about fighting more than one.

All of these are elements of Snake Range in Dog Brothers Martial Arts.

Please do your best to get registered for this camp early! I'm out of town until after the camp and Maureen will be handling registrations for me. Her email address is maureen@dogbrothers.com. If you have any questions, please email her directly.

If you are coming, please get your registrations in ASAP so we can get a sense of the numbers coming and choose our location accordingly.

Generally it will be held in the Hermosa Beach area and run each day from 10:00-16:30. For those inclined there will be a swim in the ocean at the end of the day and there will be group dinner each evening.

Woof! I'm coming for Sat and Sunday. I had to compromise with a Daddy/Daughter Camping trip from Wed to Fri. So, Sat and Sunday it is. Those of you who plan on the "end of day Ocean swim", remember, Guro Crafty would have just returned from Europe. Based off of the photos of Switzerland's Gathering, we may catch Crafty still in the "Euro Groove" and sportin' a SPEEDO!...just a warning is all!

BTW folks, it looks like we may have a special extra. A South African security specialist (who has worked in East Africa as well) and author of an anti-carjacking book, is now scheduled to come and do a presentation, including some drills in, out of, and around a car. This promises to be interesting, , ,

Damian Halforty is going to be coming to the camp all the way from New Zealand, (we also have two coming from Great Britain) to where he has emmigrated from South Africa. While he lived in South Africa he was a noted security specialist (including stints in east Africa) and was the author of a book on Anti-carjacking techniques. (Do I have these details correct Damian? Please feel free to add or delete).

Anyway, Damian will be doing a session on anti-carjacking at the Camp. (He mentioned something about using the Dogcatcher while exiting the vehicle) I am very excited about this!

A question is presented by the fact that I have billed the camp as "all Real Contact Stickfighting". I do not want people feeling misled about the contents of the camp, so I am asking for some feedback. Would we rather have a full half day on this (it looks like my truck is going to be the laboratory) or would we rather have this as an extra session Saturday evening?

Woof Crafty,Though I am open to learning new scenarios (carjacking), I am attending Camp to understand YOUR techniques, terminology, and advice to get through the next Gathering, and eventually teach your system. With much respect to Damien, I wouldn't want you to leave out something that may be of value to me to fit in his segment. On top of that....Carjacking? ...I would let them have it in a heartbeat, I have insurance. So....with that being said I am open to an EXTRA session, but not a replacement in the curriculum.

Registered for the camp. Only been to one other camp (2002) and, while I've watched/learned from a number of the videos, my stick work is still pretty basic. (I normally study an American style of karate.)

I'm flying in so I'd appreciate some advice regarding what to bring so as to not come with too little or too much. Looking at the Conceptual Overview, it appears I'll probably need the following:1. Sticks: 28" &/or 31" ok? Will I need longer for the KK material?2. Training knife: alum?, rubber?, both?, more than one?3. Staff: Available for purchase at the camp? 4. Rubber gun needed for any DLO material covered?

1) Length is up to you. Most people use about 30" (I like 31 myself) and yes KK movement is best learned with KK length sticks. Once your body understands it, you can bring it to standard length sticks. If it is awkward for you to bring KK length sticks, I probably have some fuglies you can borrow.

Here are links to 3 local hotels Marc mentioned: Each of them locatedclose in proximity to the seminar meeting point as well beaches, shops,restaurants and any after seminar night life you may wish to find

Great presentation today by Damian on anti-carjacking. Tomorrow we go to FOF (pepper spray, shocknives, airsoft and other implements of fun & games) for the anti-carjacking segment. C-Mighty's car may never be the same

Great presentation today by Damian on anti-carjacking. Tomorrow we go to FOF (pepper spray, shocknives, airsoft and other implements of fun & games) for the anti-carjacking segment. C-Mighty's car may never be the same

More fun and games today. Amongst the material taught: The Kalimba Game, the Brondo Buzzsaw, and the integration of the two into a larger whole, intro to the Salty Game, and then it was time for Damian to continue with his anti-carjacking material. Pepper spray and a Shocknife livened up the scenarios. Toki's car escaped with no apparent damage. (In his scenario Toki made and awesome move from front seat to back and out the far passenger door.)